October 4 is World Animal Day And St Francis Day

 World Animal Day on October 4 is all about recognizing the vital role animals play in our lives, our companions, working partners, wildlife, and the beings who share our planet. It’s a global call to celebrate, protect, and advocate for their well‑being. 

For the pet‑blogging community, it’s a natural fit: sharing stories that highlight compassion, posting educational content about responsible care, amplifying rescue groups, showcasing adoptable pets, or even creating themed art and badges that inspire others to get involved. Bloggers can turn their platforms into little beacons of kindness - reminding readers that every act of care, no matter how small, contributes to a world where animals are valued and protected.

The birds are flying south already and they are denuding the trees of all the nuts and fruit. What we can do is support our Overwintering Birds. Birds have highly active metabolisms and require calorie-dense food to maintain their body heat in extreme cold, especially when natural nut and fruit yields have failed. What We are doing at our house:

Provide High-Calorie Foods

Fill feeders with black oil sunflower seeds, shelled peanuts, and high-quality suet blocks. Suet and peanuts offer the dense fats and protein necessary for birds to survive freezing nights.

Offer a Clean Water Source

Finding liquid water can be harder for birds than finding food in freezing temperatures. Consider using a heated birdbath or an immersion heater to keep a shallow water source from freezing.

Maintain Feeder Hygiene: 

Because many birds will crowd around the remaining food sources, clean your feeders bi-weekly with a diluted bleach solution (one part bleach to nine parts water) to prevent the spread of avian diseases.

St Francis Day

Many churches in Canada celebrate the Feast of St Francis of Assisi on October 4 each year. The feast commemorates the life of St Francis, who was born in the 12th century and is the Catholic Church’s patron saint of animals and the environment. It is a popular day for pets to be “blessed”.

The world has been celebrating St Francis since 1228 when Pope Gregory IX pronounced St Francis a saint - That is 798 years ago! The pope also laid the foundation stone for the Basilica of St Francis in Assisi, Italy. The church, also known as Basilica of San Francesco d'Assisi, is a UNESCO world heritage site.